If you loved Haymitch in the original films, you'll be excited to know that a new prequel focusing on a young version of his character is coming soon.

Suzanne Collins is releasing another book, which will be coming to theaters in 2026.

Unlike the previous prequel, which takes place 64 years before the events of the original trilogy, this new story will revisit Panem 24 years before.

It will center on the 50th Hunger Games (the Second Quarter Quell), which saw District 12’s Haymitch Abernathy crowned as the winner.

“With this new book, I was inspired by David Hume’s idea of implicit submission and, in his words, ‘the easiness with which the many are governed by the few,’” Collins wrote in a statement.

“The story also lent itself to a deeper dive into the use of propaganda and the power of those who control the narrative.

The question ‘Real or not real?’ seems more pressing to me every day.

”Along with the upcoming book release, Lionsgate has already announced plans to bring the prequel to theaters.

Francis Lawrence, the filmmaker behind the last four movies, is in talks to return to direct.

“From the beginning, Lionsgate has been a wonderful home and partner for the franchise, and I’m very excited to be collaborating with Adam and the team as we bring this next story to theaters in 2026,” Collins continued.

More than 100 million copies of all four books in Collins’ series have been sold, while the films have grossed more than $3.

3 billion at the worldwide box office.

The star-studded cast has featured Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Woody Harrelson, Elizabeth Banks, Lenny Kravitz, Stanley Tucci, Donald Sutherland, Rachel Zegler, Tom Blyth, Viola Davis, Jason Schwartzman, and Peter Dinklage.

Suzanne Collins’ prequel will be released on March 18, 2025, in print, digital, and audio formats in the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

The story will take place 24 years before the Jennifer Lawrence films, beginning on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell.

The games are particularly important because Haymitch Abernathy emerged as the victor.

He and Lucy Gray Baird (as seen in the previous prequel) are the only other winners from District 12 before Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark’s victory.

Haymitch, portrayed by Woody Harrelson, serves as a mentor for Katniss and Peeta in the original films.

Haymitch’s victory is revealed in the second book, but the details of his win were mostly left out of the film adaptation.

At 16, he was reaped for the Second Quarter Quell along with District 12’s Maysilee Donner.

Haymitch and Maysilee formed an alliance and remained together until there were only five tributes left.

Maysilee eventually decided to go her own way to avoid having to kill him, but she was tragically attacked and killed by bird-mutts.

He held her hand while she died.

Haymitch won the 50th Hunger Games by cleverly using the forcefield at the edge of the arena to kill the District 1 tribute with her own axe.

The new book is set 40 years after Collins’ 2019 novel, which explores President Coriolanus Snow’s origin story.

Adapted into a film in 2023 starring Tom Blyth and Rachel Zegler, the movie follows a young Coriolanus Snow before his rise to infamy as Panem’s leader.

During this time, he mentors Lucy Gray Baird, a traveling musician and District 12 tribute.

Snow is torn between his deep feelings for Lucy and his increasing lust for power.

In the new prequel, viewers will likely see an older, more powerful Coriolanus Snow.

Two weeks after Haymitch's victory, he ordered the execution of Haymitch’s mother, younger brother, and girlfriend.

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